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4 Types of Teeth & What You Need to Know

Taking extra care for your teeth is not only about aesthetics. In fact, they do more than just biting and chewing. Teeth and their surrounding structures play important roles that can affect your ability to eat and speak, and likewise have an impact on your overall health, after-all they are the entrance to the gut system.

Certainly, you can’t just take your teeth for granted. There seems that nothing is really intriguing about this part of the body, however you might be missing on what their key benefits are, as well as the functions that they perform.

How well do you know your teeth? Read on and get yourself familiar with the 4 types of teeth and what you need to learn about them.

The Four Types of Teeth

1. Incisors

(sharp, chisel shaped, known as the front teeth)

These are mainly composed of four upper and four lower teeth which mainly function to cut the food you eat.

In general, these are the first set of baby teeth that erupt at around the 6th month mark of an infant’s life. A second set of permanent incisors that appears between 6 and 8 years of age.

Important: Brush your teeth regularly and stick to a good calcium diet to keep your incisors strong and healthy.

2. Canines

(pointed, cusp-shaped teeth, aka as cuspids)

These teeth are the sharpest and they work best for tearing and grasping of food. Therefore, they have an important role in digestion. Canines come in a set of four and generally, upper canines erupt between the 16th and 20th month. In case of permanent teeth, it is the lower canines that erupt first, usually between the ages 11 and 12.

Important: Smoking and chewing hard food like nuts can damage the teeth. Avoid these bad habits that are harmful for the teeth. Regular brushing and flossing also helps.

3. Premolars

(features 2 pointed cusps on the surface, aka as bicuspids)

Mainly, premolars work to tear and crush the food you eat. However, unlike the incisors and canines, your premolars have a flat biting surface. All in all, there is a total of eight premolars in adults, with 4 premolars on each side of the mouth (2 on the upper and 2 on the lower jaw).

Normally, the 1st set of premolars make their appearance at the age of 10, then after a year the 2nd set of premolars follow. Each set serve as the replacement for the 1st and 2nd molars.

Important: As premolars are situated deep into the mouth and are deprived of external air, they are susceptible to bacterial attack which can later develop into plaque and tartar. Aside from regular brushing, it is also recommended to rinse the mouth thoroughly and floss.

4. Molars

(consists of several cups on the biting surface, the largest of all teeth)

As the biggest teeth with a large biting surface, molars work to grind chew and crush the food you eat. Between 12 and 28 months, primary molars appear. These molars are also known as deciduous molars and eventually get replaced by the 1st and 2nd premolars, with 4 on the upper jaw and another 4 on the lower jaw.

Important: As with the premolars, molars are also susceptible to germs and other teeth problems. It is therefore necessary to ensure that teeth are cleansed and rinsed well.

So, as you read above now you know there are 4 different types of teeth and each type require attention and care to keep you free from dental problems. Keep your teeth in their optimum condition to enable them to perform their functions that will in turn contribute to overall health.

Do you have questions about teeth care and dental health? Book a free initial consultation now so our dental experts can help you.